The Mathematics of Origami

Chalkdust

11 March 2026

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Joseph O’Rourke is a professor of computer science at Smith College, Massachusetts, USA. The Mathematics of Origami (Cambridge University Press) is his book that looks at… the mathematics of origami.

Style

Anyone with a maths degree with immediately recognise the style and layout (and font) of this book. It’s very clearly written using LaTeX, and follows a theorem/proof structure like many sets of lecture notes. However, the writing included in the theorem/proof structure it a lot more accessible that your average set of lecture notes, and before long you’ll find yourself lost in a world of dragon curves, flat folding, and rigid origami.

Control

The book is well written and very readable. It has loads of great pictures that help make what it’s talking about a lot clearer.

Damage

This book includes a ton of stuff about paper folding that I’ve not read in other books. It’s a great addition to the collection of someone who already has a lot of maths books, as it’s not just the same stuff again with a different cover.

Aggression

I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in looking at origami from a mathematical point of view, particular those with an academic maths background who will be more familiar with the theorem/proof style of the book.

You can vote for your favourite book on the Book of the Year shortlist below. The winning book will be crowned the Chalkdust Readers’ Choice. Voting closes at midday (GMT) on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

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